Asclepias subverticillata [Whorled Milkweed]

[Andrea B.]

Blum, A.G. (2021) Asclepias subverticillata (Gray) Vail (Apocynaceae) Whorled Milkweed. Flowers photographed in ultraviolet and visible light. https://www.ultravio...orled-milkweed/

Update: 09 Feb 2022 Added habit photo.

 

El Dorado at Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Found along Camino Entrada.

20 June 2021

Wildflower

 

Synonyms:

• Asclepias galioides auct. non Kunth

Other Common Names:

• Horsetail Milkweed
• Poison Milkweed
• Western Whorled Milkweed

Comment:

After photographing this pretty greenish-white Milkweed, I looked up the names of the parts of this complex flower and made a little reminder diagram.

Milkweeds are pollinated by bees who manage to stick their foot into openings along the side of the gynostegium and hook up with a pair of pollen sacs to pull out of the center. At the next flower if the bee manages to again insert a foot carrying the pollen sacs into the center and leave them behind, then the flower will become pollinated. It seems to work well enough if there are tricky-footed bees about. "-)

 

 

 

References:

1. SEINet Arizona-New Mexico Chapter (acc 14 Mar 2021) Asclepias subverticillata.

This is a southwestern biodiversity organization making use of the Symbiota portal software.

2. Southwest Colorado Wildflowers (acc 22 Mar 2021) Asclepias subverticillata.

Website published and maintained by Al Schneider and hosted by Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory.

3. Wildflowers of New Mexico (acc 22 Mar 2021) Asclepias subverticillata.

Website published and maintained by George Oxford Miller.

4. Allred, Kelly W., Jercinovic, Eugene M., Ivey, Robert DeWitt (2021) Flora Neomexicana III: An Illustrated Identification Manual, Second Edition, Part 2, Asclepias Key, page 68. Print on demand at lulu.com.

5. Finley, Willa F., Nieland, Lashara J. (2013) Land of Enchantment Wildflowers. Asclepias subverticillata, page 266. Texas Tech University Press, Lubbock, Texas.

6. Littlefield, Larry J., Burns, Pearl M. (2015) Wildflowers of the Northern and Central Mountains of New Mexico. Horsetail Milkweed, page 69. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

 

 

Habit/Habitat Photo

The milkweed is growing in a disturbed area along with some grasses and sunflowers (the dark green leaves).

Nikon Z + Nikkor Z 24-70/4 S

 

 

 

Equipment [Nikon D610-broadband + Novoflex 35/3.5 Noflexar]

 

Visible Light [f/11 for 2" @ ISO-400 in Ambient Skylight with Baader UVIR-Block Filter]

The inflorescence is umbellate.

 

 

Ultraviolet Light [f/11 for 30" @ ISO-400 with SB-140 UV-Flash and BaaderU UV-Pass Filter]

^{Two flashes were made in the 30" interval.}

The flowers have quite an interesting UV signature showing UV-bright edging

on both the petals and the hoods.

[Cadmium]

Andrea, another interesting flower. Great photos!

[Fandyus]

Nice. Are you perhaps planning to release an atlas of flowers in UV as a paper book? Given how many plants you analyze it would seem like you are :D

[Andrea B.]

I don't really have any plans for a book. There really is not much interest in UV flowers.

[Pufferchung]

That’s beautiful Andrea!

[Andrea B.]

Thanks, Puff!

[Fandyus]

I don't really have any plans for a book. There really is not much interest in UV flowers.

Really? I can't imagine that nobody would buy a proper UV floral atlas if it were to be compiled.

[Stefano]

Maybe not nobody, but very few people, and publishers don't print books that only a few hundreds/thousands people would buy.

 

In my high school there were classrooms who had a subject taught in only three schools in Italy, and they had no books for the same reason.

[Andy Perrin]

Yep, that's correct. You need a market to sell anything. There are print-on-demand places but they often charge the author, which is the wrong direction for how the money should be flowing!

[Bill De Jager]

Nice job on some fascinating flowers!

[Andrea B.]

Thank you!

[Andrea B.]

Update: 09 Feb 2022 Added habit photo.